Switch



Patented Apr. 1s, 1933 1,904,540

UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE SIGWART RUPPEL, OF FBANKFORT-ON-THE-IAH,GERMANY swrrcn l Application led September 22, 1980, Serial No.4813,634, and in Germany September 88, 1929.

My invention relates to switches, more estact cap. The fixed contacts ofthe disconpecially of the kind disclosed and claimed in nectingswitchand the terminals are secured my copending application for Letters Patonsoc ets or the like behind the compressed ent of the United States,Serial N o. 217,4387 gas switch, by way of example on the res- 5 liledSeptember 3, 1927, for method and apsure air vessel, and may beseparated om 55' paratus for interrupting high tension cireach other andfrom the compressed gas cuits on which the present invention is answitch by means of fixed or movable insulatimprovement in Walls.

It is an object of my invention to combine 'he rotatable insulatingmembers carryin l0 a switch of this type with a disconnecting or thecontacts and the disconnect' switc 5 isolating switch so that the twoswitches form blades are actuated by means of a single opa unit. eratingshaft and connecting rods, so that It is a further object of myinvention to only a single operating mechanism is reprovide a connectionbetween the compressed quired for the dlsconnecting switches which' 5gas or gas blast switch and the disconnecting are conneted in front andto the rear of the 5` or isolating switch in such manner that thecompressed gas switch. switches are locked with respect to each otherReferring first to' Figs. 1 and 2, 1 and 2 are so that the disconnectingswitch can be the movable and the fixed contacts ofthe comopened orclosed only if the compressed gas pressed gas switch respectively. 9 isa switch is in its open position. grounded middle piece surrounding themid- 7W It is a further object of my invention parportion of the movablecontact 1 and an ticularly in a multiple phase switch to groundinsulating pipe 10 through which the movthe switch contacts when themovable contactsa able contact rod 1 extends. 7 and 12 are of thedisconnecting switch reach their open anges rotatably mounted on themiddle or isolating position whereby the blades of piece 9 preferably bymeans of ball bearings 75 the disconnecting switch connect the con- 8.The u per liange 7 carries an insulating tacts of' the compressed gasswitch in series socket 6 orming part of the switch casing and toground. carrying the fixed contact 2. The discon- In the drawing alixedto this specification necting blade 4 and the knife blade contact andforming part thereof some embodiments Y 5 are secured to the contactmember 2. The 8 of my invention are illustrated by way of lower liancarries an insulating socket 13 example. transverse by the contact rod 1to which the In the drawing line terminal ca 14 of a disconnecting bladeFig. 1 is a diagrammatical side elevation, 15 and a knife lade contact16 are secured.

partly in section, of a switch or circuit break- In Figs. 1 and 2 theblades of the disconnect- 85 er according to my invention. ing orisolating switches are shown in their Fig. 2 is a plan view of theswitch shown closed position in which the blades 4 and 15 in Fig. 1.rotate about the longitudinal axis of the Fig. 3 is a side elevationpartly in section switch casing and enga-ge fixed disconnecting ofanother embodiment of my invention. switch contacts 21 and 24respectively. The 9 Figs. 4 and 5 are some" embodiments of the contacts21 and 24 are mounted alongk an axis loc ing means used in connectionwith `the substantially parallel to-that of the switch switches shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3. casing are supported by sockets 20 and 23 ln apreferred embodiment of my inven' arranged on the compressed s vessel19and tion the insulating members of thev comare connected to leads 22 @25respectively. 95

pressed gas switch which carry the contacts The compressed gas issupplied to the switch are rotatably arranged on the grounded midfromthe vessel 19 by means of a valve 18. dle piece. The blades ofthedisconnecting y27 is a gas channel connectin the middle switch formingthe leads of the compressed pieces 9 of the sin l poles so iat thecomgas switch contacts are arranged on the conpressed gas may hesupplied centrally on 100 necting switches' the kni e if the compressedmay be provided in order ly as well as separate driving means may themiddle pole. The entire apparatus may be mounted on U-irons carrying thcsame. 17 is an insulating rod actuating the movable contact member 1. 11is an actuating rod rotating the flange 7 together with the socket 6,the contact 2 and the blade 4. The lower liange 12, the lower socket 13and the lower blade 14 are actuated by means of a rod 26 in an analogousmanner. The rods 11 and 26 are actuated simultaneously by means of anoperating shaft 29 and levers 28.'

In order to connect the contacts of a. multiple-phase compressed gasswitch in series and to ground by means of the blades of thedisconnectin switch in its open position the contacts of t e pressureair switch carry in addition to the disconnecting switch blades knifeblade contacts engaged b the blades in their open position, the thirdlade engaging a grounding contact so that the contacts of the compressedgas switch are connected in series and to ground and .may be touchedwithout any danger.

In Fig. 2 the closed position of the disconnecting blades of each switchunit is shown in full lines, while their opened position is shown indotted lines. In the open position the lowest disconnecting blade ofig.'2 engages a grounded contact 30, while the two other disconnectingblades connect the three contacts 2 and the three contact caps 14 inseries. In o ning the disconblade contacts 5 and 16 provided on themiddle and one of the outer poles of the switch are rotated about 90 andengage thedisconnecting blades of the adjacent poles respectively.

In order to prevent the actuation of the disconnecting switches in theclosed position of the com ressed gas switch the actuating shaft 29 othe disconnecting switches may be locked with the actuating shaft of thecompressed gas switch in such manner vthat the disconnecting switchescan be actuated only switch is in its open position. Other loc 'ng meansare described hereinafter in connection with Figs. 4 and 5.

Any suitable driving means as a pressure air drive, a magnet drive, arelay or the like to actuate the oompressed gas switch and the switches.A single driving means may be rovided actuating the compressed gasswitch v and the disconnecting switches simultaneousprovided for theswitches. By way of. example the compressed gas switch may be act-uatedby means of pressure air while the disconnecting 'switches may beactuated mechanically by means of bell-cranks or the like. The currentis fed to the compremed" gas switch by means of the disconnecting bladesso that in order to kill the compressed gas switch contacts only thesockets 6 and 13 are to be rotated. The ball bearings 8 are prois in itsclosed be Further b `'switch may be prevented when of the load current.In order to interrupt the current the auxiliary switch is oplened firstso that the compressed gas switc interrupts the total current. `In orderto cut in the current the compressed gas switch is closed first and thenthe auxiliary switch preferably comprising a rotatably U-shapcddisconnecting blade. The auxiliary switch is actuated by means ofinsulating members.

Referring now to Fig. 3 a disconnecting switch shunting the compressedgas switch is provided. The disconnecting switch comprises knife blades4 and 15 and a connecting bolt 31 substantially parallel to the axis ofthe switch casing forming together a U- shaped switching member. 32 is aflange rotatably arrangedwithin a cylinder 33. 34 is a driving means bywhich the iiange 32 is rotated. The flange 32 carries anlinsulator 20supporting the bolt 31 and the switch blades 4 and 15. The switch bladesengage in their closed position current carrying contacts 5 and 16secured to the sockets 6 and 13 of the compressed gas switch. s Currentis fed to the device by means of the leads 22 and 25. In the position ofthe contacts shown in Fig. 3 the disconnecting switch carries a portionof the load current. The actuating means of the compressed gas switchand the disconnecting switch may be of any. suitable type but should belocked in such manner th disconnecting switch may be actuated only whenthe compressed gas switch `tion. By dimensioning the auxiliary switch insuitable manner the compressed gas switch is overloadable to any desireddegreebecause the latter carries normally only a portion of theloadcurrent and the full load current only during the short Vtimes ofcutting' in and out the current.

In order to lock the disconnecting switches and the comp gas switch withrespect to each other the of the compressed gas switch may be portionwhereby the members of the disconnecting switches can be actuated onlyif the profilated member is in a red-ctermined position. the profilationof the movable compresse gas switch contact member and by a corres ndingshape of the sliding contacts cooperating with the movable contactmember the closing of the compressed gas the disconnecting switches arein their open position. Instead vof this the locking means may arrangedon the actuatingv shafts or these shafts may be actuated by a singleactuating mechanism in such manner that the disconmovable contact member4 Pro l Contact cap 14 shown in Fig. 1.

necting switches cannot be opened or closed when the compressed gasswitch is in its closed position. Y

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 some em'- bodiments of the locking meansare shown which may befused in connection with the switches describedabove. In Fig. 4 the lower portion of the movable contact rod 1 of thecompressed gas switch is proiilated as indicated by 36, so that it hashexagonal cross section. 35 are contact fingers cooperating with thesurfaces of the profilated rod. The contact fingers 35 are connectedwith the contact cap 14 and therefore, while the contact rod 1 is in itsclosed position, a rotation of the socket 13 and the flange 12 isprevented. Since the upper disconnecting switch in Fig. 1 is actuated bymeans of the same shaft 29 as the lower disconnecting switch, bothdisconnecting switches are locked when the contact fingers 35 engage thesurfaces of the proilated rod portion 36. After the compressed gasswitch has opened the contact fingers 35 engage the cylindrical portionofthe rod 1 so that now the disconnecting switches may be actuated. Ifthe disconnecting switches are in their open position the compressed gasswitch cannot be closed because the proiilated portion 36 cannot engagethe contact lingers 35 in the open position of the disconnectingswitches. By choosing a suitable length for the proilated portion 36 anopening of the disconnecting switches may be prevented before thecontacts of the 'compressed gas switch have been withdrawn apredetermined L"distance from each other.

Referring now to Fig. 5 the movable contact rod 1 is provided' withradial extensions 37 sliding in slots of a guiding piece 38 sur` By wayof eX- 38 may be the Therefore the contact cap 14 and the socket 13cannot be rotated while the extensions 37 engage the slots of theguiding piece 38'.l After the contact rod 1 has been loweredsufficiently the extensions 37 come out of engagement with the slots ofthe piece 38 so that now the disconnecting switches may be actuated. Itis obvious that the compressed gas switch canrounding the contact rod'l.ample the guiding member ,not be closed when the disconnecting switchesare opened. A t

If the'compressed gas switch and the disconnecting switches are actuatedsimultaneously the gap between the contacts of the compressed gas switchin their open position may be relatively small while the air gapsrequired in order to prevent back discharges are provided by thedisconnecting switches. Therefore the total height of the compressed gasswitch may be decreased in comparison to a compressed gas switch of theusual type.

A further advantage of my invention consists in that the gas exhaustpipes may bc arranged on the hollow contacts without interfering withother parts of the switch.

The switches described herein may be advantageously used in iron-cladswitching plants, for instance, the switches being arranged within agrounded metal supporting structure in a manner well known in the art.Access to the switches may depend in any suitable manner upon lockingmeans connected to the grounding means'of the switch blades 4 or 15sothat the interior is only accessible after the switch contacts aregrounded and separatedv from. the' current leads 22 to '25. Aftergaining access the compressed gas switch may be touched since all partsof it are dead and grounded. If in this condition the compressed gasswitch shall be actuated the proilated portions of the contact rod lshould be adjusted in such manner that an actuation of the switch isallowed. l

The rear portion of the switch comprising the current leads may be madeseparately accessible and if desired may be locked independently of thefront side..

l wish it to be understood that 1 do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. v

in the claims alixed to this speciiication no selection of anyparticular modiiication of the invention is intended to the exclusion ofother modifications thereof and the right to subsequently make claim toany modification not covered by these claims is expressly reserved.

1. A switching device of the gas-blast type comprising a casing,relatively rnovabie contacts cooperating within said casing, said casingproviding a passage lfor a gas blast between said contacts uponseparation thereof, line terminal structure at opposite ends of saidcasing arranged to connect with said contacts respectively, andisolating switch members coacting with said terminals and movable intoandgout oi circuit controlling engagement. v

2. A switching device oi the gas-blast type comprising relativelymovable contacts, a casing forming a gas passage within which saidcontacts are mounted, line terminal structure at opposite ends of saidcasingy arranged to connect with said lcontacts respectively, and a pairof rotatably mounted isolating switch blades movable to iso'atin andconnecting positions with respect to said terminal structure.

3. A switching device of the gas-blast type comprising relativelymovable contacts, a casing forming a gas passage at one end of whichsaid contacts coact, said casing including insuat opposite ends thereof,terminals arranged A accesso respectively carried by said insulatingmembers, an isolating switch member connected to each of said terminalsand means for rotating said insulating members and moving said switchmembers into open and closed circuit` positions. l

4. A switching device of the gas-blast type comprising a pair ofrelatively movable contacts, a casing at one end-of which said contactsare mounted including an intermediate metallic grounded portion and apair of insulating mem yers rotatably mounted at the opposite ends ofsaid portion, a terminal arranged to connect with a correspondingcontact carried by each of said insulating members, and an isolatingswitch blade connected to each of said terminals, rotation of saidinsulating members causing movement of said switch blades to connectingand isolating positions respectively.

5. A switching device of the gas-blast type comprising a pair ofrelatively movable contacts, a casing forming a gas passage there-y forhaving terminal structure atropposite ends 35 thereof, said terminalstructure including current carrying contacts connected to theaforesaidcontacts respectively, supporting structure rotatably mountedabout an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said casing, and

a pair oi interconnected switch members carried at the opposite ends ofsaid supporting structure coacting with said current carrying contacts.

6. A multi-phase switching arrangement comprising a plurality of switchunits each including a casing, relatively moy/able contacts mountedtherein and a switch member mounted for rotatable movement on each ofsaid casings, means grounding each of said i0 switch units when in theopen circuit position comprising a ground contact arran ed tor-beengaged by one of said members, ant contacts carried by said casings'or' interconnecting switch members in the open cir-cuit posi #D tion.

'11". sswitchin and isolating device othe gas-blast type inc uding amovable rod contact, a contact coacting therewith, a casing therefor,iine terminal structure carried by 5@ seid casing connected to said rodcontact and enacting contact respectively, and isolatin switch membersrotatably carried by sai casing and connected to said terminal strucmture, and means interlocking said rod Contact with respect to saidcasing so that movement or' said switch members to isolating positionmay take place only when said rod Contact is in the open circuitposit-ion.

in testimony whereof i afin my signets SIGWRT RUPEL,

csi

